What in the world does that mean you might ask? The short answer is this: accountants are operating in a world defined by accelerating change and complexity. As a result, the ability to anticipate (disruptions, problems, customer needs and new opportunities) will be the most important skill any business person can possess.

Have you ever felt like you were misunderstood, like those around you didn’t appreciate or recognize your contributions, or that you just didn’t fit in? These are not uncommon experiences but they can present daunting barriers to reaching your full potential.

The reality is that most, if not all, of us have experienced these feelings at some point over the course of our career. Understanding these feelings and taking control of how we communicate with one another is key to unlocking our potential.

Last year, HORNE openly declared a war on accounting firm culture. Why? Because, to paraphrase Herb Stein, things that can’t go on forever, won’t. And the culture of public accounting simply can’t go on without significant change to the way we work.